Discourse as Data : A Guide for Analysis

`A highly effective introduction which gives readers a clear sense of how to analyze discourse data and then employ the analytic approaches in their own research′ - David Silverman, Goldsmith′s College, University of London

This workbook will be invaluable for students across the social sciences who need to learn how to analyze discourse. Using a step-by-step approach, students are introduced to the principal range of methods for analyzing different types of text, taken through key analytic concepts, offered specimen analyses and given the opportunity to try out analytic concepts on new data.

Discourse as Data is organized around eight chapters, six of which are related to the domains covered in the Reader, and top and tailed by two chapters which set up common methodological issues in discourse research relevant to all approaches (such as transcription and the application and the critical evaluation of discourse research).

Though the text will be a perfect companion to the simultaneously published Reader, its broad coverage, combined with didactic, practical guidance should make this important reading for any student or researcher wishing to learn more about discourse analysis.

This book will be ideal as a teaching tool, and an invaluable aid on discourse analysis courses, which have a practical content, most notably within the fields of psychology, cultural and media studies, sociology and linguistics.

This book is a course reader for The Open University course Discourse Analysis (D843).